Archives for April 26, 2004

As of this moment, “About Last Night” is being read in thirteen time zones worldwide.

A message to everyone out there: Tell your friends about us. We don’t advertise. Instead, we count on you (and our fellow bloggers) to spread the word. This blog isn’t just for New Yorkers, or big-city types in general. It’s for everyone, everywhere, who’s interested in the arts…and tonight it’s being read more than halfway around the world.

Thanks for visiting. Next time, bring a friend.

“Some years ago I attended an evening of mime by Marcel Marceau, an elaborate exercise in aesthetic purification during which the audience kept applauding its own appreciation of culture and beauty, i.e., every time they thought they recognized what was supposed to be going on. It had been bad enough when Chaplin or Harpo Marx pulled this beauty-of-pathos stuff, and a whole evening of it was truly intolerable. But afterwards, when friends were acclaiming Marceau’s artistry, it just wouldn’t do to say something like ‘I prefer the Ritz Brothers’ (though I do, I passionately do). They would think I was being deliberately lowbrow, and if I tried to talk in terms of Marceau’s artistry versus Harry Ritz’s artistry, it would be stupid, because ‘artist’ is already too pretentious a term for Harry Ritz and so I would be falsifying what I love him for.”

Pauline Kael, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Sunday was an all-guitar day, almost. After writing a piece in the morning, I did the following:

– I went to hear the John Pizzarelli Trio play a benefit matinee at New York’s P.S. 9, two blocks from my front door. Also on the bill were Tony Tedesco on drums (he plays on Pizzarelli’s latest CD, Bossa Nova, out this week from Telarc) and Jessica Molaskey on vocals (Mrs. John Pizzarelli to you, and a warm, charming singer in her own right). Doubling as MCs and guest artists were two small Pizzarellis, one of whom attends P.S. 9 and the other of whom is an alumnus thereof. I’ll be writing more about the concert in my Washington Post column this coming Sunday, so for now I’ll say only that I had a ball.

– From there I came back home and watched the rest of Panic in the Streets, which was excellent. (Next up, The Letter or Brute Force, depending on how much time I have and how cynical I feel.)

– After a quick pre-prandial nap, I went down to Le Madeleine to eat dinner and listen to Gene Bertoncini’s regular Sunday-night solo guitar gig. Again, I’ll be writing about it in the Post, but I’ll take this opportunity to plug his latest CD, Acoustic Romance, which is as good as it gets.

– I haven’t read a word all day. I did, however, place an absentee bid on a Hans Hofmann lithograph, which I suppose can be called an art experience.

Now I’m back home again and headed for bed. No gigs Monday–I’ll be spending the entire day writing a Commentary essay on the state of the Broadway musical. That ought to keep me out of trouble until Tuesday. Then I’ll write two more pieces, one due on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday. In addition, I’ll be out every night through Saturday.

Some blogging may occur in the interstices of this frenzied activity, or not. It all depends. Doesn’t that make you feel secure? (Come back, OGIC, all is forgiven!)

Later.

Maria Schneider sent out this e-mail today:

I am very excited for our next Hunter College concert. It’s happening this Thursday, April 29th. We’re featuring my teacher and friend, the great Bob Brookmeyer. There will be a pre-concert discussion starting at 6:45 p.m. The concert begins at 8:00. The Kaye Playhouse is located at the corner of 68th Street and Lexington. Call for tickets: 212-772-4448. There is a student price, so students should inquire about that.

If you teach in the area, PLEASE, do pass the word to your students and friends. This is a rare treat to have Bob perform in New York and to listen to him speak about music. One half of the concert consist of my music featuring Bob (including Anthem, which I wrote for Bob, but has never been performed in New York), and for the other half, I am giving Bob my orchestra to play his marvelous music conducted by him. We will be playing Celebration Suite which was recorded by Bob’s New Art Orchestra featuring Scott Robinson. Scott will be playing it this Thursday.

I hope you will come and spread the word to your friends. It should be a special night.

It should indeed. Regular readers of this blog don’t need to be reminded of what I think of Maria Schneider and Bob Brookmeyer. The opportunity to hear them both on the same bill is…well, I’m not quite sure what to call it. Epochal, maybe. So if you’re anywhere near Manhattan on Thursday, go.

For more information, go here.